Tea and Sympathy (1956): Cast & Plot
Tea and Sympathy is a 1956 drama directed by Vincente Minnelli, starring John Kerr as Tom Robinson Lee, Leif Erickson and Edward Andrews. It runs 2 hours 2 minutes.
- Released
- Runtime
- 2h 2m (122 min)
- Director
- Vincente Minnelli
- Genre
- Drama
- Original language
-
English - Studio
- Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer
- After the credits
- No No extra scene
What Is Tea and Sympathy About?
The premise of Tea and Sympathy without spoilers. The whole story is in the plot summary further down.
The film asks where a woman’s sympathy ends and her indiscretion begins, as a sensitive young man looks back on his boarding‑school years. The only person who seemed to offer him genuine compassion was the housemaster’s wife, whose attention blurs the line between kindness and desire.
Tea and Sympathy Themes & Keywords
· 50 tags- sexual awakening
- homophobia
- older woman younger man relationship
- coming of age
- homosexual
- trying to act more masculine
- gay interest
- gay
- male female relationship
- conformity
- loss of virginity
- masculinity
+38 more Show fewer
- based on play
- gay character
- suspected homosexual
- college reunion
- reference to cornell university
- reference to west point military academy
- reference to columbia university
- domineering father
- reference to cinderella
- reference to the big bad wolf
- mistaken for gay
- disdain for sissiness
- self doubt
- loneliness
- humiliation
- machismo
- folk singer
- name calling
- singing
- guitar
- father son relationship
- teenage boy
- sister boy
- dance lesson
- giving coffee to a drunk
- screenplay adapted by author
- reference to a 12 year old
- band the musical group
- phonograph record
- roommate roommate relationship
- rough housing
- surrogate mother surrogate son relationship
- reference to a war casualty
- actress recreates her stage role
- actor recreates his stage role
- faculty
- marriage
- teenager
Tea and Sympathy Cast & Characters
John Kerr leads the cast as Tom Robinson Lee, with Leif Erickson as Bill Reynolds and Edward Andrews as Herb Lee. Directed by Vincente Minnelli; 42 actors are credited in all.
-
Director Vincente Minnelli
- John Kerr as Tom Robinson Lee
- Leif Erickson as Bill Reynolds
- Edward Andrews as Herb Lee
- Darryl Hickman as Al
Also Starring in Tea and Sympathy
· 38 more- Deborah Kerr Laura Reynolds
- Norma Crane Ellie Martin
- Dean Jones Ollie
- Harold Miller Alumnus
- Bert Stevens Man at Bonfire
- Mike Lally Man at Bonfire
- Byron Kane Tennis Umpire
- Sol Gorss Burly Man
- Dale Van Sickel Burly Man
- Paul Bryar Alex
- Peter Leeds Headmaster at Bonfire
- Robert Ellis Second Boy
- Tom Laughlin Ralph
- Jacqueline deWit Lilly Sears
- Mary Alan Hokanson Mary Williams
- Wilson Wood Alumnus
Show all 42 cast members Show fewer cast members
- Peter Miller Pete
- Ron Gans Dick
- Harry Harvey Jr. First Boy
- Chuck Courtney Boy in Soda Fountain
- Ralph Reed Boy at Soda Fountain
- Kip King Ted
- Ralph Votrian Steve
- Richard Tyler Roger
- Norman Ollestad New Young Boy
- Michael Monroe Earl
- Tom McKee Alumnus
- Don Burnett Vic
- Steven Terrell Phil
- Madge Meredith Alumna
- Chuck Webster Alumnus
- Del Erickson Freddie
- Virginia Eiler Alumna
- Jimmy Hayes Henry
- Gene Merlino Tom Lee (Singing Voice)
- Bob Alexander Bob
- Parker Eggleston Boy in Soda Fountain
- Robert Santon New Young Boy
Tea and Sympathy Plot Summary
What happens in Tea and Sympathy from start to finish, spoilers included, with a timeline of 14 key events. The opening is below; the full summary is a 2-minute read.
Spoilers ahead
Seventeen-year-old Tom Robinson Lee, John Kerr, a new senior at a boys’ prep school, finds himself at odds with the machismo culture that dominates the campus. The boys worship their coach, Leif Erickson Bill Reynolds, and fill their days with sports, roughhousing, and fantasies about girls, while Tom leans toward classical music, reads Candida, goes to the theater, and generally seems more at ease in the company of women.
The other students taunt him for his unmanly traits, nicknaming him “sister boy,” and his father, Herb Lee, Edward Andrews, pushes him to conform to the expected masculine script. Only Al, Darryl Hickman, Tom’s roommate, treats him with decency, recognizing that difference does not equal weakness.
Full summary
The whole story of Tea and Sympathy, scene by scene
Tea and Sympathy Trailers & Videos
The trailer of Tea and Sympathy.
How Well Do You Know Tea and Sympathy?
10 questions about the story, each with a hint if you get stuck. Pick an answer to see whether you were right.
Question 1 of 10
- Question 1: not answered
- Question 2: not answered
- Question 3: not answered
- Question 4: not answered
- Question 5: not answered
- Question 6: not answered
- Question 7: not answered
- Question 8: not answered
- Question 9: not answered
- Question 10: not answered
What is the name of the 17‑year‑old protagonist who transfers to the boys' prep school?
Cars in Tea and Sympathy
12 cars on screen, including the 1950 Dodge Wayfarer and the 1950 Chrysler Royal.
-
1950 Dodge Wayfarer Important role -
1950 Chrysler Royal Background role -
1949 Chrysler Windsor Background role -
1942 Ford Bus Background role
Tea and Sympathy Also Known As
8 alternative titles, including “Chá e Simpatia” and “Thé et sympathie”.
- Also known as
-
- Chá e Simpatia
- Thé et sympathie
- Té y simpatía
- Tè e simpatia
- Anders als die anderen
- Te i simpatia
- 茶与同情
- 차와 동정
Seen Tea and Sympathy?
Movies Like Tea and Sympathy
Films with a similar story, tone or audience, including if…, A Separate Peace and Another Country.
Tea and Sympathy FAQ: Cast, Runtime & Release Date
Runtime, release date, director, cast and post-credit scenes of Tea and Sympathy, each answered in a sentence.
How long is Tea and Sympathy?
Tea and Sympathy runs 2 hours 2 minutes (122 minutes).
When was Tea and Sympathy released?
Tea and Sympathy was released on September 27, 1956.
Who directed Tea and Sympathy?
Tea and Sympathy was directed by Vincente Minnelli.
More films by Vincente Minnelli Who is in the cast of Tea and Sympathy?
Tea and Sympathy stars John Kerr as Tom Robinson Lee, Leif Erickson as Bill Reynolds and Edward Andrews as Herb Lee, among 42 credited actors.
Does Tea and Sympathy have a post-credit scene?
No. Tea and Sympathy has no extra scene during or after the credits.
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